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realityescapee01

Jul 12, 2022

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Eddie Munson & Will Byers (Platonic) | Steddie mentions

Will was stunned. Starstruck to say the least. Meeting Eddie, he now understood why Dustin cannot shut up about him.

Eddie saved him. Eddie showed him it's okay.

"It's okay. Don't be afraid, little one. I got you now." Eddie said as dramatic as he always does.

Welcoming Will into his Hellfire club and ushering the young one into a new world.

Making Will embrace who he is. The one he was hiding all these years.

Will wiped his tears from crying for the 3rd week about his almost coming out to Mike. About him not being able to express himself. He likes Mike. Romantically, definitely not in just a friend way.

He wanted to talk to someone about it. About his feelings for Mike. About his sexuality. But there is no one to talk to.

He cannot tell El. Obviously. He cannot tell his brother about it either. Even if Jonathan talked to him heart to heart back in the pizza store. He just couldn't.

He is gay and he has no one to talk to about it.

When did he know?

He always was a little girly than other boys. And he always stares at Mike. He always wanted to see Mike. To be around Mike. To talk to Mike. Have Mike look at him and smile at him.

He thought he can have Mike, but Mike is not like him. Mike likes girls. Mike likes El.

And it hurt. It hurt like hell.

Will even thought why he wasn't born a girl? Maybe then Mike would like her.

Why do boys like girls? Can't boys like other boys?

He wanted to talk to his mom about it. Ask so many questions, but he just couldn't. He had put his mom through so much by disappearing already once. He doesn't wanna burden her any more than that. Because he knows he is not 'normal.'

He knows because the world says: there are boys and girls. Boys like girls. And Girls like boys.

That's it.

Not boys like boys. Not girls like girls.

He just got back from the upside down that time, and things are starting to go back to normal, he can't just dump all of that to his mom right then.

So he kept it to himself. For years. Thinking he is the only one like that. That he is alone.

And then he met Steve and Robin. And, oh boy, Steve is so pretty. Will had to stop himself from staring too long at times. He's scared Steve would catch him and call him names or something. And also, he still likes Mike. Mike is still crush number 1. Steve can be crush number 2.

But Robin gave him some kind of hope. Robin being a lesbian. A girl liking a girl. Maybe he is the boy version of Robin. A boy liking a boy.

He doesn't know until that time about the word: gay. But now that he knows, he has a word for himself now.

But instead of finding comfort on finally having a word for what he is, he felt more alienated.

Because there, at him and El's school, the words gay, homo, queer, and faggot were thrown as an insult. With so much negativity and disgusts. He saw people like him get bullied and avoided.

Will got even more scared of telling anyone.

He is weird enough already, being lost in the upside down, presumed dead, and then come back alive. Coping with the changes he missed. He cannot take the added troubles and challenges that comes from being gay.

After a few years in California, Will's family, El and Hopper, decided to go back to Hawkins. Because they know that if ever the upside down decided to go batshit again, the safest place is with their friends who got through that shit with them before already.

Seeing Mike everyday is a delight. But a torture as well. Because Will knows Mike will never return his feelings. He knows he has to move on. And still, he knows, he'd still be there for Mike.

There are times he wanted to come out. To hell with it, whatever happens next, he didn't care. He wanted to confess his feelings to Mike.

But whenever he gets to it, he chickens out.

The moment they met up with the old gang, Dustin won't shut up about this Eddie person.

How awesome Eddie is. How cool Eddie is. Eddie this, Eddie that. But Will doesn't mind, he's happy to see Dustin this lively. He'd take all the Eddie talk any time, any day, for that.

As the school year began, finally, Will meets Eddie. Dustin immediately joining him into the D&D club they are in.

Will stared at Eddie. At Eddie's everything.

Eddie is beautiful. Eddie being himself and not giving a fuck about what people think.

The way he talks, the rings, the tattoos, the passion for D&D and any other geeky, nerdy shit. The way he smiles, laughs, and the way he is not afraid to show the world how different he is. How a freak he is.

But what made Will gravitate towards Eddie is the way Eddie looks at Steve.

Even if Will is still young, he knows that look. Because he looks at Mike the same. He knew Eddie is like him.

Will cannot explain it, but he instantly felt safe with Eddie. Maybe, maybe around this adult guy, he can be himself. Maybe he can be like Eddie. That it's possible to be gay, free, to be himself, and happy.

Eddie showed him that being gay doesn't mean automatically alone, avoided, and bullied just like the kids he goes to school with back in California. That you can be cool. You can have friends. You can be happy about it.

And soon enough, it wasn't just Dustin raving about Eddie. Will started raving about Eddie too.

He always talks to Eddie. He's always sitting next to Eddie. Enough to see how Eddie glances at Steve and throw some flirting every now and then.

And Steve was... kind of receptive to it. Steve banters back at times. Specially about their inside joke that Steve is the mom and Eddie is the dad of the babysitting gang. Dustin couldn't be happier seeing his two favorite persons get along well.

Sometimes Will wonders if Dustin knows. But he is sure, Dustin being the genius he is, that Dustin knows about Eddie being gay. With the handkerchief on his back pocket being a clear indicator.

If you know about it.

Will did some researching about stuff. About people like him. And he gets what the handky means.

The D&D night arrived and Will has a new character all setup. Eddie was glad that Will knows how to play the game already.

Eddie went on with the campaign. Recalling the previous events and then proceeding to their next event.

Everything was going well. Going smooth. Eddie sat on his throne and looked at each and everyone of his Hellfire club members.

Dustin. The little shrimp that he loves so much, remembering the shit they went through in the upsidedown. Dustin was smiling so widely and his eyes are smiling as well, almost just like slits. His cheeks so puffed from smiling. Eddie would take this anyday over the panicked look Dustin had in the upsidedown.

Mike. He might be away while the whole Eddie hunt situation went down. But he knows he's been in some shit too. Rescuing the supergirl El.

Lucas. Yes, Lucas is back. He still plays basketball but he prioritizes their game now over it. Eddie understood him. Wanting to fit in with the cool kids. Wanting to belong. He is glad Lucas now is where he truly belongs.

And then there is Will. Dustin filled him in about the thing that happened to Will when they were much younger. Eddie's heart broke when he heard about it. He experienced a few minutes, maybe hours, in the upsidedown. And it gave him nightmares for weeks. Even up until now that it's over. What more, getting stuck there longer. And as a little innocent kid! Oh heavens.

Eddie's stare at Will softened more. He was so glad the kid came back. And then Eddie thought if he had some good support from his friends after that. Eddie is sure his Dustin did. But sometimes Dustin could get sidetracked. He just hoped Will didn't feel left out or something.

Eddie hoped Will had them all to talk to about all the trauma and the hell he went through. He, an adult, needed weeks to spend with Steve and Robin to cope with the aftermath of it all. A kid like Will back then definitely needed all the ears to listen and the hugs he could get.

And then something curious happened. Eddie saw Will glance at Mike and tried to not smile so much. A little red tint crept up to his cheeks too.

'Ooohhh, what do we have here???' Eddie smiled to himself.

"Eddie?... oh, great one!" Dustin shook him out of his musings. It's his turn to move the events forward.

"Oh. Pardon, I was thinking..." Eddie refocused on their game. He would be a good Dungeon Master and give them one hell of a campaign tonight. Will Byers can wait.

The game was ended for the night. They were packing up. Eddie was still sitting on his throne, observing Will.

Eddie is sure. But is Will sure? Does anyone know? Do Dustin and the others know?

And then Mike looked back at Will saying they have to move faster so they can go to El faster. Will immediately looked away and said okay. Making himself busy on cleaning up.

'Okay. He doesn't know.' Eddie thought. As he stared at Dustin, who was just carrying on. And so does Lucas. 'They don't know. No one knows!!!' Eddie was biting his lips.

"Eddie, we'll go ahead to your van." Dustin said as he stepped out of the room.

"Hey, what???" Eddie wasn't made aware he's babysitting afterwards.

"Steve is busy. You drive us home then."

Right. He forgot. Steve did tell him to drive the kids home earlier today. Something about Steve having to talk to his parents or something.

"Alright. Onto the chariot, little ones!" Eddie hopped down from his throne.

"Oh, not again!" Mike complained. Eddie's driving makes him dizzy.

"Shh! As your mom is absent today, you gotta listen to your dad!" Eddie was holding up a finger, scolding his little kids.

Will smiled at that. Eddie looked so cute.

Eddie took the opportunity and made sure Will is the last one he had to drive home.

"Hey, Will. I gotta stop by the store, is that okay?" Eddie excused.

"Yeah."

As they were driving, Eddie shuffled through all the things he could intro with that won't scare Will off. He wasn't sure if the kid is out to anyone. Hell, he wasn't even sure if the kid is out to himself.

But what Eddie doesn't know is that Will was also trying to figure out how to start asking the questions he wanted to ask Eddie.

They parked at the convenience store, far from the window and the entrance.

"So..." Both of them spoke at the same time.

"Oh, sorry, go ahead." Will surrendered.

"No, you first." Eddie gave way.

"Uhm... Eddie... you are... a friend of Dorothy's?" Will spoke in code.

Eddie's eyes widened because Will knows the codes. "Yes. I am... and you?" Eddie decided to jump the gun.

"...Y-Yeah. Me too."

"You gotta say it. It's different if you say it."

"I'm..." Will choked back. He only ever thinks of the word. He never really said it out loud.

Eddie was right. It's different if you say it out loud. It makes it more real.

"It's okay, Will. You have to say it. Trust me."

"I'm... I'm gay." Will finally said. Hearing himself identify himself out loud, in his own words, his own voice, hit him different.

He started crying.

He never realized how much he needed it. How much he needed to say it. To finally tell someone.

"It's okay. Don't be afraid, little one. I got you now." Eddie said as he pulled Will into a hug.

Will took a deep breath and let it out. A long, dragging breath. Eddie felt the weight of that. A very heavy weight lifting off Will's shoulders.

Eddie stayed quiet and just let Will cry on him.

Will was so thankful right now. All the tiredness of hiding caught up to him.

"I was so tired! I was so scared! I thought I was the only one! I thought I was sick! I thought I was broken! I thought there's something wrong with me!"

Will started enumerating everything he thought and felt. All his fears. All the pain he felt from pining for Mike for a long time and no one to talk to about it. All the suppressed emotions came out all at once and he couldn't do anything but cry.

Eddie was hushing and cooing him through it. A loving and comforting hand rubbing his back.

"It's okay, Will. Nothing is wrong with you. You're not broken. You're not sick."

"You're the only one who knows, Eddie."

"And I'm honored you trusted me that much." Eddie ruffled his hair. "So, what's on your mind?"

"I wanna... let everyone know. I'm tired of hiding."

"Slowly, Will the Wise. Slowly." Eddie nodded.

After that heartfelt talk, Eddie and Will got into the store. Eddie got Will his favorite ice cream. When they stepped out, they saw Jonathan pulling up with Argyle.

"Will? Why are you still out?" Jonathan asked and glanced at Eddie. The freak Eddie Munson.

What is his brother doing with Eddie? Jonathan worried. And as if Will read his mind, he immediately assured his brother.

"Hey, Eddie's just driving me home. Steve couldn't make it tonight. We just finished D&D."

"Okay... Well, you can come with us now. We're heading home."

Will nodded. "Eddie, thank you so much for tonight."

"No problem, Will the Wise." Eddie said dramatically with an old school bow.

Will laughed as they watch Eddie drive off with his van.

Jonathan was staring at Will the whole time. It was a long long while since he heard that laugh from Will. It's a long long while since he saw Will smile. Really smile. And that shine in his eyes. He missed that so much.

It's as if he's seeing the young, cute, little Will all over again. Before he got lost in the upsidedown.

Then he knew, Jonathan knew, whatever Eddie did for Will, he's gotta thank the freak.

Eddie did drive off. But not back to his home.

He pulled up in front of a beautiful house. Got out of his beat up van, obviously out of place in that neighborhood. He ran up to the door and rang the bell.

"Stevie!" Eddie piped up when Steve came to answer the door.

"Eddie? What are you doing here? Did you drive the kids home?"

Eddie laughed a little. Momma Steve is on.

"I did, don't worry. Except Will, we met Jonathan on the way."

"Okay. Come in." Steve invited him in.

Eddie had been spending nights with him. Hanging out. But mostly talking about the shit they've been through the upsidedown. Eddie needed to talk to someone. It baffled him that the kids are okay with it. Like it was nothing. But he was glad it is that way. He'd have that rather than them severely traumatized and ptsd-ing everytime.

They were drinking beer in Steve's room. They were ready to sleep. And Eddie saw Steve tidying up the bed for them to sleep in.

'Will... it's okay, you will find someone like this... like Steve. Who will accept you for who you are.'

"Eddie, come on. Let's go to sleep." Steve raised the comforter, inviting Eddie in.

"Cumming." Eddie intentionally emphasized the pronunciation.

"Eddie, ugh! I'm too sleepy for that."

"Alright, alright." Eddie trudged towards the bed.

Him and Steve are not together, no. Not yet, at least. But Eddie is feeling really good about this. He feels they can be so much more. He just has to let it all play out right.

And along the way, Eddie could show Will that it's okay. It's really okay. You don't have to be afraid.

---

The following days, Will was all over Eddie. Exchanging looks and smiles. And huddling alone together more often. Will was asking him all the questions he wanted to ask.

Dustin was getting jealous. He was pulling all these cute little tantrums. And Eddie pretended not to notice.

"Eddie!!!" Dustin ended up hugging Eddie's side. "What's up? What's this???" Dustin pointing to Will.

Eddie just laughed. "What is? We're just talking. I'm teaching Will."

"What are you teaching him?"

"...stuffs."

"Stuffs?!?" Dustin was so close to Eddie that they are cheek to cheek now.

"Yeah..." Will leaned in to Dustin's ear and thought it's a good time to tell Dustin. "... stuffs."

Dustin's eyes grew and he slowly leaned away from Eddie and towards Will.

"Will..." Dustin was staring intensely at Will. "... ugh! Finally!!!"

Dustin then hugged Will so tight.

"Wait, what do you mean finally?" Will worried that he might be too obvious and he just didn't know.

"I figured it out. Like, way back. I just didn't wanna push you 'out of the closet.' " Dustin whispered that other part Because he didn't wanna ruin the way Will wanted to come out.

"Oh, Dustin!" Will hugged Dustin as tight.

"Are you also... do you also... " Dustin was pointing at the handky of Eddie on his back pocket.

"... Oh! No. No, I'm not... Actually, I don't know yet."

Eddie was giggling to himself. Will is too young for those. He'd rather have him explore when he gets a little older.

"Fair enough, yeah. Right, right." Dustin was nodding as dramatic as Eddie when he nods. He was picking up a lot of things from Eddie.

Dustin and Will went back to their classes as the lunch break was over. Eddie was right. His friends are actually really good friends. Dustin is down, now the others should be next.

Eddie let Will and Dustin and Lucas off of the campaign night on Will's request. Will decided to come out to the rest.

Everyone had a different reaction. But accepting nonetheless. Supportive too. Mike was quiet. And was just nodding along with the others. It made Will nervous.

When everyone else left, Mike pulled him aside.

"Will... Hey, I'm... I figured... you... me... I'm sorry, Will. I didn't know I was hurting you."

"Y-Yeah. It's not your fault, Mike."

"... I'm sorry... I'm still here for you. I still wanna be friends with you. Like before all the shit went down. I really do. I just couldn't be... You know."

"I know."

"Yeah... so... if there's some guy, you know, you gotta tell us. We will make sure he's worth it."

Will laughed. This is good. This is really good. "I will. But not anytime soon."

"Sure thing. We're here. We're gonna screen the assholes out."

---

Will and Mike started laughing. Like how they were before the upsidedown. Will could imagine the boys questioning his future boyfriend.

Dustin would definitely have a spy party following the guy around. Full blown background investigation for sure. Code red. Super high priority.

Will began changing his appearance too. He always wanted to try a different hairstyle. He wanted to try different fashion. That's why he is here, with Steve and Eddie, shopping for new clothes.

Steve picking out outfits and Eddie teasing him.

"Really? Are you joking? This pants are cool." Steve holding up a pretty preppy pants.

"This. This is cool!" Eddie holding up a ripped black jeans, that looks like what he has on.

Will was just watching the two. He was wondering if Steve is bisexual. He learned from Eddie that there are people who like both boys and girls.

Honestly, Will thought it was cool. So much more options for them then.

He then saw Eddie lean on Steve, like really lean on him. Steve just wrapped his arms around Eddie's waist. And they stayed like that.

"If you are so great..." Steve looked at Eddie's eyes, then lips, then back to the eyes again. "...why don't you pick the outfits then?"

"Alright, Stevie sweetie." Eddie pouted his lips in a kissy gesture at Steve before leaning away.

Steve didn't take his hands off of Eddie's waist. He just let it slid off as Eddie walked farther away.

'Yup. I think Steve is bi.' Will walked over to Steve.

"You're gonna end up looking like Eddie if you don't speak up on what clothes you want." Steve nudged him with his arms.

"Is there a problem though? Looking like Eddie?" Will was playful.

"... No... Nothing at all." Steve said, not taking his eyes off of Eddie.

Will looked at Eddie too, prancing about in the store, picking out clothes.

They ended up with an outfit that's a mix of Steve and Eddie. Mostly like Steve but with a shirt like Eddie and accessories like Eddie.

"Now, for the hair." Steve was thinking really hard on it.

"Just let it grow out." Eddie suggested.

"No, he has to style and take care of it like this." Steve suggesting his hair style, shampoo and conditioner brands. And some gels too.

"Nay. I vote: nay! Just grow it out."

"Cut and style it."

"Grow it out."

Oh boy, this day's gonna be long. Will watched the two argue. The two kept arguing. Eddie would sometimes lean in on Steve's face, banter and then pull away. Steve would grab Eddie's jacket and act like he's tidying it up but he is really patting Eddie rather strongly and then banter back.

It was a cute little banter.

Ultimately, in the end, will got the slick back quiff hairstyle. It's good because it will look better as it grows out.

They grabbed lunch and Will is starting to have the urge to ask Eddie if he withheld some information about him and Steve. Maybe they got together?

Sure, Will knows Eddie is a little bit of a flirt, but the two were behaving very suspicious. They were so close. Eddie flinging his arm over Steve's shoulder. Steve would put his arm around Eddie's waist. Eddie would piggyback on Steve. And Steve just takes it. Carrying Eddie on his back as they walk around the shopping center.

Sometimes Eddie would come up on Steve's back, look over Steve's shoulder and then place his chin on Steve's shoulder, looking at whatever Steve was looking at.

Steve had to go excuse himself to go to the restroom. Will took the chance.

"Eddie! Did you and Steve get together?"

Eddie didn't answer. He just gave a discreet smile.

"Oh my god!" Will was ecstatic. "Really? When? Oh my god!"

"Calm down!" Eddie was holding Will down, because if not, he's sure the boy would've been jumping up and down. "Well... there was this one night this past weekend..."

Eddie looked back so fondly on that night. He began telling Will how Steve was behaving weirdly. Long story short, Steve confessed to Eddie first.

Steve told Eddie that he had been having a bi panic. In denial. And confused. But couldn't deny himself any longer. He wanted to take Eddie on dates. He wanted to have Eddie be with him.

And Steve kept rambling on until Eddie stopped him with a kiss. They started making out and it led to...

Eddie stopped himself because Will is still too young for that.

"Uhm, yeah, so that's what's up with me and Steve."

"Wow, oh my god, I can't believe it... Steve... Eddie, will I meet someone like that too? Someone to be with?"

"Oh, you will. You will." Eddie grabbed Will into a wrestling hug.

Steve came out of the restroom. Eddie looked at him and grinned. Eddie walked up to Steve's side and whispered that Will already knows.

"Oh..." Steve looked at Will. And Will just nodded. "Well, I guess, Dustin should be next to know."

"I'm sure he's gonna be all: why am I the third person to know? Why did Will and Robin get to know ahead of me? Why???" Eddie did a top-notch Dustin impression.

All three of them laughed out loud.

This day is great. This day is definitely a step towards being free for Will. He can feel change is coming for him.

He'd be free. He won't be alone. He won't be afraid anymore. He would embrace his identity and not feel sorry about it.

He will be happy.

-+-+-+ ( complete ) +-+-+-

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#eddie munson #will byers #stranger things #coming out #finding freedom #friends #support #it's okay #Happy Will